Boston Triage = New York Elation

A look through the newspapers, websites and blogs:

• The Big Lead points out that all the media was watching from the beginning
• Buster Olney says that not only did Damon and Teixeira set the Yankees record for back-to-back jacks in a season (amazing, I know considering the sluggers who have come through), but A-Rod was the first player in major league history to snap scoreless ties by hitting home runs in the seventh inning or later twice in one series. I think he's officially "clutch" (let's just hope it carries over to "playoff clutch").
• Tyler Kepner has three great points in his blog post following the sweep: for now the Yankees spent wisely in the offseason, give credit to the Yankees leadership for waking up this team when they were in near-crisis in June, and Alex Rodriguez has just been all about baseball this season, following his promise to be less of a distraction.
• Peter Abraham has a recap with some audio and points out that Andy Pettitte has been great lately which is huge for Yankees fans
• Ken Davidoff says now the New Yankee Stadium feels like home (totally agree with him after being there on Saturday) and Davidoff with some other thoughts on the Massacre including the thought that Mark Teixeira's bat flip means "this ain't over" in reference to the bad blood between the Yankees and Red Sox (I actually think he just held on to it to see if it went foul and then dropped it...but who knows)
• The Boston Globe may have said it back when they said the Yankees are just going with the flow. The Yankees truly look like they're never out of any game.
• The Boston Globe also says the long and short of it is that Daniel Bard failed (which should slow his ascent to the Hall of Fame, but maybe only slightly)
• The Boston Herald says the Red Sox are not in a position to rival the Yankees
• The New York Daily News says that the sweep stirs memories of the 90s and NYDN also with the point that Cashman outwitted Epstein this past summer.
• WFAN's Sweeny Murti says the Yankees have become the hunters
• Joel Sherman's 3UP today centered around Yankee's euphoria, Mark Teixeira for MVP, and how Joba's innings limits may play out
• ESPN's Amy K. Nelson on Teixeira (and Damon) leading the Yankees past the Red Sox
• The Big Lead makes Yardwork of The Boston Massacre and calls A-Rod a "True Yankee" after his 15th inning bomb
• FanGraphs tracks the Yankees win probability from last night
• Yahoo! Sports' Big League Stew says that the Yankees are again the Red Sox's Daddy with some Star Wars' references
• The New York Post writes that A-Rod is finally feeling some fan love and Joel Sherman it's not just about the Yankees being up, but about their rivals dropping
• Jack Curry had a blog post for the New York Times after the blowout win Thursday which said "Blowout Just the Tip of the Iceberg for Red Sox". If only he knew how prophetic his words would be.
• Jack Curry also writes that history says that the Yankees are postseason bound
• Behind The Moat had a great live blog of Saturday's game (the one I went to)
• Baseball Musings had a great point about Red Sox fans being depressed after Game 1 of the series and how the mistake wasn't getting Smoltz, but not having a good backup plan for Mark Teixeira
• Despite how the series went, Joel Sherman feels that Joba flunked Thursday's test
• The Yankees vaulted to #1 on Sports News' Power Poll
• Deadspin says that the Yankees are on top again and all is right with the world (and that was only after one win!)

On Ortiz:

• Baseball Musings hates David Ortiz's use of "careless"
• SportsByBrooks isn't surprised that Ortiz denied doing steroids since that's what they all do

A few other notes:

• Sports Ilustrated's Tom Verducci: The Red Sox have been great about getting out from under players before they age -- until now. Boston absolutely had to make the deal for Victor Martinez because it could not afford to keep giving full-time at-bats to Jason Varitek, a 37-year-old catcher, and Mike Lowell, a 35-year-old third baseman coming off hip surgery. The elders hit a combined .249 with six home runs in the two months leading up to the trade deadline. So it goes in today's game, as the actuarial tables get rewritten. Only six players 36 or older have played enough to qualify for the batting title, and only four of them actually play in the field: Raul Ibanez, Chipper Jones, Mike Cameron and Craig Counsell.
• MLBTradeRumors says that the Red Sox may have put in a claim on Christian Guzman to solve their SS woes.
• Ken Rosenthal had a great post about the wrath that David Ortiz will incur if he is lying, but touches on some other interesting subjects:
• Derek Jeter: The Yankees are not getting enough credit for their defensive improvement. They were 25th in the majors last season at converting balls in play into outs. This season they rank 11th — and yes, Jeter's stronger defensive play is one reason. Jeter ranked 32nd, 34th, 34th, 34th and 31st among major-league shortstops the past five seasons according to the plus-minus ratings according to Bill James Online. This season he ranks 12th, in part due to his work with first-base coach Mick Kelleher. Jeter, by getting into the ready position sooner, is avoiding being late when the ball comes off the bat. He also is taking deeper angles on balls hit far to his left or right, and the combination of the two adjustments is helping him make more plays.
• Robinson Cano: He, too, has made significant defensive strides, moving his feet to create better hops and allowing his quick hands to do the rest.Kelleher has worked with Cano on double-play feeds and pivots. Rather than reach for throws with one hand at second base, Cano is now keeping his hands up and together, giving other infielders a target, then making quicker, cleaner transfers.
• Red Sox's bad contracts: The Yankees still might be the Evil Empire, but the Red Sox inspire just as much envy among rival clubs for their ability to outspend their mistakes. The Sox invested a combined $10.5 million in right-handers Smoltz and Brad Penny. They will end up paying more than $2 million for six games of first baseman Adam LaRoche and two months of Casey Kotchman. Now consider their financial commitments for 2010 to players who are past their primes, underperforming or, in the case of Julio Lugo, playing for other teams: J.D. Drew: $14 million, Mike Lowell: $12 million, David Ortiz: $12.5 million, Daisuke Matsuzaka: $8 million, Julio Lugo: $9 million, Jason Varitek: $3 million (player option) = Total: $58.5 million.
• Buster Olney had some amazing stats after the 15-inning classic. Here are some of them:
  • 1. By The Numbers: Game time: 5:33
    Pitches: 494
    Strikes: 293
    Players used: 38 (includes pitchers)
    Batters: 113
    At-bats: 97
    Walks: 15 (One catcher's interference, if you're proving your box score)
    Hits: 13 (BA: .134)
    Strikeouts: 28
    Left on base: 22
    Combined RISP: 0-for-19
  • 2. Last Yankees shutout of 15-plus innings: Aug. 27, 1976, beat Angels 5-0 in 15 innings.
  • 3. Alex Rodriguez became only the fifth player in MLB history to hit a walk-off home run in the 15th inning or later to break a scoreless tie.
  • 4. A-Rod tied Harmon Killebrew for ninth place on the career HR list with his 573rd. 
  • 12. The last Red Sox game to go scoreless through 14 innings: July 14, 1916 versus St. Louis Browns at Fenway -- they played to a scoreless tie in 17 innings!